Tokyo (AFP)
The Ukrainian Daria Bilodid, already the youngest world champion in the history of judo, has retained its world crown in -48 kg, at age 18, in Tokyo on Sunday, one year of the Olympics 2020.
A year ago in Baku, Bilodid became the youngest judoka in history (ladies and gentlemen alike) crowned world champion, at 17 years and 345 days precisely.
The Ukrainian elite is now the first double individual world gold medalist before her 19th birthday, which she will celebrate on October 10th.
As at the Mondials-2018, Bilodid beat in the final the Japanese Funa Tonaki, she world champion in 2017, by waza-ari.
On his land, Japan was deprived of gold during the first day of competition in the Nippon Budokan, nestled in the heart of Tokyo. In addition to Funaki, gentlemen side, Ryuju Nagayama has earned him "only" bronze in -60 kg, by depriving his compatriot Naohisa Takato, double champion of the world title.
The 26-year-old Lukhumi Chkhvimiani of Georgia won gold at the expense of Uzbekistan's Sharafuddin Lutfillaev, two months after winning European gold.
The podiums of the 1st day:
LADIES
-48 kg
1. Daria Bilodid (UKR)
2. Funa Tonaki (JPN)
3. Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL)
. Distria Krasniqi (KOS)
GENTLEMEN
-60kg
1. Lukhumi Chkhvimiani (GEO)
2. Sharafuddin Lutfillaev (UZB)
3. Ryuju Nagayama (JPN)
. Yeldos Smetov (KAZ)
© 2019 AFP